Cathay Pacific denies firing cabin crew over row between mainland passenger, Cantonese couple

Airline issues clarification contradicting claim by mainland woman involved in row on flight from Hong Kong to London

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Cathay Pacific says it has not warned or terminated any flight attendants over the incident. Photo: Sam Tsang

Published: 11:44pm, 24 Sep 2024Updated: 12:08am, 25 Sep 2024

Hong Kong flag carrier Cathay Pacific Airways has denied firing or issuing a warning to any flight attendants over their handling of a row between a mainland Chinese passenger and a Cantonese-speaking couple, contradicting a claim by the woman involved.

The airline issued the clarification after it banned the couple following complaints from the mainland passenger that they had insulted her and made discriminatory remarks during a flight from Hong Kong to London on Tuesday last week.

“Cathay Pacific Airways clarifies that it has not warned or terminated any flight attendants in relation to the incident,” Cathay said on Tuesday.

It said earlier that the in-flight service manager had issued two “serious” verbal warnings to the two disruptive passengers, adding that the pair would be banned from boarding any Cathay flights in future in accordance with rules.

Cathay’s latest response followed the mainland traveller telling a local media outlet on Monday that Cathay had said to her that it had warned a flight attendant involved in the handling and would conduct a review.

The row broke out when the mainland passenger reclined her seat, which led the couple behind to accuse her of obstructing their view of the in-flight entertainment.